Generator for synchronizing gear



March 10, l 925 l ,528,951

H. O, RUSSELL ET AL GENERATOR FOR SYNCHRONIZING GEAR Filed April 18I1922 acharne Patented Mar. l0, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,528,951 PATENT oFFlcE.

HERBERT 0. RUSSELL, 0F DEUROIT, MICHIGAN, A N'D CHARLES LEIGH PAULUS, OFDAYTON, OHIO.

GENERATOR FOR SYNCHRON'IZING GEAR.

Application tiled April 18, 1922. Serial N0. 555,400.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERBERT O. RUSSELL and CHARLES LEIGH PAULUS,citizens of the United States, residing, respectively` at Detroit andDayton, in the counties of l/Vayne :ind Montgomery and States ofMichigan :ind ()hio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Generators for Synchronizing Gear, of which the` following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an impulse generator for synchronizing gearand is designed especially for use on airplanes, the generator beingdriven by the engine and serving to transmit impulses to the triggermotor of a machine gun enabling said gun to fire through the zone of thepropeller without the bullets striking the propeller blades.

By a novel arrangement herein shown and described, a plurality ofimpulse generators may be mounted one upon the other so that all of themwill be driven by the engine, the arrangement being such that aplurality of machine guns may be controlled and fired; furthermore saidguns may be arranged at any convenient locations on the aircraft.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means whereby each ofthe generators may be adjusted independently of the others for thepurpose of regulating the time of firing of the gun controlled thereby.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction. combination and arrangement herein described,illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 shows the impulse generator in elevation.

Figure 2 is a diametrical section through the same.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through the generator taken in linewith the cam and impulse cable.

The generator comprises a housing 1 which is of general cylindricalformation and provided with a Vernier Harige 2 at the hase thereofhaving a circular or arcuate series of holes 3 to adapt the housing tobe adjusted and accurately and securely fastened in any position. IThisenables the impulse generator to be adjusted or set so that the tiringoperation of the gun will take place and insure against the bulletsstriking the blades of the propeller.

Extending co-axially within the housing is a cani shaft 4 having asquare lower portion 5 and provided with a s uare socket 6 in the upperportion thereo the object being to enable one or more generators to heplaced upon each other and interconnected h v the cam shafts so as to besimultaneously driven. The shaft 4 carries a cam T, which is illustratedas having two projections which are adapted to come in contact with oneend of a cam lever 8, mounted centrall upon the pivot 9 within thehousinl;r 1. lhe other end of the cam member 8 works in a notch or slot10 in the end piece 11 ot a flexible impulse cable 12 which extends tothe trigger motor of the gun controlled by said generator'. The camlever works in :in off-set 13 of the housing 1 as best shown in Figure3.

Tlul cam `shaft 4 is journaled in antifriction hearings 14 within thehousing, a lubriranty being fed in said bearings through an oil cup 17.The housing 1 is furthermore provided with a sei-ond Vernier flange 15having holes 16 to enable another impulse generator mounted thereon tobe adjusted actually around the center of the shaft 4 so as to regulatethe time of firing of the gun controlled thereby.

It will he understood thatthe generator, driven by the engine of theairplane and transmitting impulses to the trigger motor of the machinegun, allows the gun to fire through the zone ot the propeller withoutthe bullets striking the propeller blades. Movement of the cam lever,due to the hump of the cam, imparts a reciprocatory motion to theimpulse cable. thuscontrolling the tiring of the gun. One or moregenerators may be placed one upon another and so adjusted as to regulatethe time of firing ot each gun controlled thereby, such an adjustmentbeing rendered practical hy the vernier Harige. The generator isordinarily. connected with the trigger motor of the machine gun by awire cable operating within a flexible steel or brass tube l bricatedwith graphite or oil. Such flexible tube enables the guns to be locatedat any necessary place on the airplane without reference to the locationot' the generator as the flexible tube may be bent and lead to anydesired point. The gun is operated by a positive pull upon the impulsecable and not by means of energy stored in the springs The impulse cableis returned to its normal position after being pulled by the cam leverby means of a spring in the trigger motor.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In an impulse generator for synchronizing gear, a housing, an enginedriven shaft rotatable therein, a cam on said shaft, an impulse cable, acam-operated lever in said housingr actuated by said cam and actuatingthe impulse cable, and means including a series of perforations in aflange on said housing for adjusting said housing around the axis of thecam shaft.

2. In an impulse generator for synchro nizing gear, a housing, anengine-driven cam shaft rotatable therein, a cam on said shaft, animpulse cable. and a cam-operated lever in said housing actuated by saidcam and actuating the impulse cable, said housing having a flangeprovided with a series of perforations so spaced as to provide a vernieradjustment of said housing around the axis of said cam shaft.

3. In an impulse generator for synchronizing gear, a housing, anengine-driven cam shaft rotatable therein, a cam on said shaft, animpulse cable, and a cam-operated lever in said housing actuated by saidcam and actuating the impulse cable, said housing having atoppositeendsthereof flanges having means permitting a fixed and exact adjustnient ofsaid housing around said cam shaft.

4. In an impulse generator for synchronizing gear, a housing, anengine-driven cam shaft rotatable therein. a cam on said shaft, animpulse cable, and a cam-operated lever in said housing actuated by saidcani and actuatin the impulse cable, said cam shaft having anges on anon-circular end portion to fit into the non-circular portion of theshaft of an adjacent impulse generator.

5. In au impulse generator for synchronizing gear, a housing, an enginedriven vain shaft rotatable therein, a cam on said shaft. an impulsecable, a cam-operated lever in said housing actuated by said cam andactuating the impulse gear, said cam shaft having an end portion adaptedto be fitted with an end portion of an adjacent impulse generator shaftin such a manner as to rotate the same.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures.

HERBERT O. RUSSELL. CHARLES LEIGH PAULUS.

